Business incubator looking for somebody to help

The incubator is designed to create an environment in which a small company can grow until it is strong enough to stand on its own.

OPELOUSAS (AP) — The St. Landry Parish business incubator is looking for companies to help.

The incubator was created to help grow employment from within the parish.

But it has yet to attract many clients, and it faces a deadline on a $750,000 loan from the state that is forgivable only if it creates 20 jobs by March 2014.

The incubator is operated by the St. Landry Economic and Industrial Development District.

Still, new incubator director Bill Rodier said he is in discussion with two potential clients. One would be a one-person businesses, which is not unusual for the startup businesses the incubator is designed to benefit.

The incubator is designed to create an environment in which a small company can grow until it is strong enough to stand on its own.

It offers office space below market rates and provides limited secretarial help and access to office machines such as phones, copiers and such for free or at low cost.

Rodier said he has greater hope for the other potential client, which he described as a software development company.

The company, should it decide to locate in the incubator, would start with two positions.

But Rodier said it plans to grow quickly to a staff of four software designers and a support staffer.